MOST women know when their period is coming to the date and time of the month.

But when it comes unexpectedly, or shows up for the first time in several months, what does this mean?

For women of a certain age, this is known as a “flash period” – a term coined in the new Sex and the City series “And Just Like That”.

Charlotte reveals that she hasn’t had a period for four months, leading her to wonder if she has entered the menopause. 

Suddenly, Mother Nature calls as soon as Charlotte steps out in an all white outfit.

Charlotte’s “flash period”, as Miranda calls it, is played off as laughable on the show.

But this little hiccup highlights what every woman will go through anywhere from their 40s or even earlier. 

“Irregular periods are a common symptom of perimenopause.” says Dr Sameer Sanghvi, Clinical Technology Lead at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor. 

“Perimenopause is a transitional period prior to menopause which usually affects women in their 40s and often lasts for four years, but can sometimes be up to ten.”

Irregular periods occur during the menopause as levels of oestrogen decrease.

As ovulation becomes more unpredictable, the length of time between periods may be longer or shorter, flow may vary, and some months there will be no period at all.

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Once a woman hasn’t had a period for a whole year, she is considered to have reached or “gone through the menopause”.

However, that doesn't mean all the symptoms associated with it go away.

Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly, the NHS says.

Are you in the perimenopause?

The perimenopause is a gradual transition.

No one test or sign is enough to determine if you've entered perimenopause. 

But common symptoms and changes associated with perimenopause, are:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flushes 
• Sleep problems
• Mood swings
• Vaginal and bladder problems 
• Decreasing fertility
• Changes in sexual function 

The menopause usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, and 51 is the average age for a woman to reach the menopause in the UK. 

When to see a doctor

Irregular or “flash” periods are a normal part of aging.

There are, however, symptoms that should not be ignored.

Dr Sameer said to see your doctor if you have intense cramps that are a worse than you’ve had before.

This may point to something else, such as endometriosis.

Heavy menstrual bleeding to the point where you have to use more pads or tampons than you’re used to may be a sign of conditions like fibroids or even womb cancer.

If it’s been a year since your last period – and you are therefore post-menopausal – bleeding may indicate something serious is wrong.

Called post-menopausal bleeding, it can catch women by suprise, to say the least.

The NHS says it can be caused by inflammation and thinning of the vaginal or womb lining as oestrogen depletes. 

Benign growths, such as cervical or womb polyps, can also cause bleeding.

Less commonly, postmenopausal bleeding is caused by cancer, such as ovarian and womb cancer.

Surgery is usually the main treatment for these cancers, which may involve removing the womb, ovaries, fallopian tubes or other parts of the reproductive system affected by the cancer.

For women who are not menopausal, irregular periods could be due to stress, birth control, PCOS, and STI or pregnancy.

Symptoms of cancer in women

In rare cases, post-menopausal bleeding may be a symptom of ovarian or womb cancer.

Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• feeling constantly bloated
• a swollen tummy
• discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area
• feeling full quickly when eating
• needing to pee more often than usual

Main symptoms of womb cancer can include:

• bleeding or spotting from the vagina after the menopause
• heavy periods from your vagina that is unusual for you
• vaginal bleeding between your periods
• a change to your vaginal discharge

Other symptoms of womb cancer can include:

• a lump or swelling in your tummy or between your hip bones (pelvis)
• pain in your lower back or between your hip bones (pelvis)
• pain during sex
• blood in your pee

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